Aug 29, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde (18) look onto the field from the dugout during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
BALTIMORE—The long homestand that ended on Sunday featured the Orioles extending the second longest losing streak in their history to 19 games, a dramatic end to the streak, and then a weekend sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Orioles completed play against the Rays this season by losing for the 18th time in 19 games, 12-8, before an announced crowd of 8,353 at Camden Yards. It was the sixth time the Orioles (40-89) allowed 10 or more runs to the Rays (82-48) this season, and the 17th time this season the Orioles were swept.
“They match up really well against us,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “They always had good pitching. They play really good defense and they have an equal amount of left- and right-handed hitters that they can use to their advantage.”
Oriole starter Spenser Watkins had a rough beginning and a rough end to his day when he was sent to Triple-A Norfolk after the game. Brandon Lowe led off for the Rays with a double and scored on a single by Randy Arozarena, his 19th RBI against the Orioles this season. He beat the Orioles on Saturday night with a two-run homer in the eighth.
Arozarena stole second and, with two outs, scored on on a single by Joey Wendle to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead.
Jordan Luplow hit his eighth home run to lead off the second. Watkins retired the next 12 Tampa Bay hitters until Wander Franco led off the sixth with a single. Austin Meadows followed Franco with a two-run home run, his 22nd, and Wendle hit his eighth, and Jorge López replaced Watkins with the Rays leading 6-2.
Watkins was the winning pitcher on July 19th in the only game the Orioles won against Tampa Bay this season.
“They’re extremely sound,” Watkins said. “They take good at-bats, 1 through 9. There’s not really a breather there. They have a plan, and they stick to that plan.”
In his last seven starts, all losses, Watkins (2-7) has allowed 36 runs on 49 hits in 30 2/3 innings for a 10.57 ERA. His season ERA is 7.47.
“It’s not easy,” Watkins said. “It’s tough. Everybody wants to win, especially as a competitor, you want to go out and win. Consistently not doing that takes a toll.
“This is where the mental preparation and trusting my stuff comes into play. I have a good surrounding cast, our pitching staff, our pitching coaches, our catchers, everybody from top to bottom to lead me through it. It’s the first taste of the big leagues. I’m learning a lot through the ups, the downs, just learning how to advance each week, how I can get better.”
Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer allowed two runs in four innings. Austin Hays hit a single to drive in Ryan Mountcastle with the Orioles’ first run in the first. Mountcastle hit his 24th homer with one out in the third. He had four hits, equaling his career high.
J.T. Chargois allowed two-out singles to Mountcastle and Trey Mancini in the fifth, but DJ Stewart struck out to end the inning.
Jorge Mateo hit his first home run as an Oriole, his third overall, a two-run homer against Josh Fleming in the sixth to cut the lead to 6-4.
Wendle hit a grand slam against Paul Fry in the seventh, giving him a six-RBI game, and the Rays were ahead 10-4. Fry also was optioned to Norfolk after the game. He has a 21.86 ERA in 11 games in August and will try to regain his effectiveness with the Tides. His season ERA is 6.08.
The Orioles rallied in the seventh against Josh Fleming. Cedric Mullins, Mountcastle and Mancini began the inning with singles, and after Mountcastle scored on Stewart’s infield out, it was 10-6.
Austin Hays singled, and former Oriole Shawn Armstrong retired Mateo on a forceout, then hit pinch-hitter Ramón Urías with a pitch to load the bases. Kelvin Gutiérrez struck out with the bases loaded, his fourth strikeout in the game.
In the eighth, the Rays scored two runs on a bloop single to center by Franco.
Mullins’ two-run homer, his 24th, cut the lead to 12-8.
“You want to go out there and win every day,” Mountcastle said. “It’s obviously a lot more fun when you win. I’ve just got to keep working hard. We’re all going to keep pounding away the rest of the season and hopefully get some more wins down the stretch here.”
Notes: Mountcastle’s 24th home run tied him for third with Mancini for third most by an Orioles rookie. Cal Ripken Jr. holds the record with 28 in 1982. …Chris Ellis (1-0, 3.86 ERA) will face Robbie Ray (9-5, 2.72) on Monday night when the Orioles open a three-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays. Keegan Akin (1-8, 7.26) will face Hyun Jin Ryu (12-7, 3.88) on Tuesday, and Matt Harvey (6-14, 6.18) will face Steven Matz (10-7, 3.81) on Wednesday.
Hunter Harvey, who’s on the 10-day injured list because of a right lat strain, won’t be going on the trip. “He had a little bit of soreness after his last outing,” Hyde said. Harvey is rehabbing at Triple-A Norfolk. “He’s playing catch today and hopefully he’ll be back on the mound in the next couple of days.” Hyde said he thought the soreness was minor. … Alexander Wells, who started for the Tides on Saturday night, was pulled after two innings so he could be ready if the Orioles need him on the road trip.
Minor league update: Four home runs powered Double-A Bowie past Erie, 6-5. Designated hitter Kyle Stowers hit his 14th, first baseman Andrew Daschbach his 12th, rightfielder Zach Watson his 9th, and catcher Chris Hudgins his 8th. Hudgins’ was a two-run homer. Garrett Stallings (1-1) pitched four innings in relief, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out three.
Call for Questions: I’ll be answering your Orioles questions later this week. Please leave your questions in the comments below or email them to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.
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View Comments
Hunter Harvey has been on the “10 day “ dl since middle of May!!!!!!! How does that work?
Please trade this guy( but probably no one would give anyone in return). Or just DFA him. He’s a burden on the rehab staff- and a permanent occupant on the “10 day “” dl
He was put on the 10 day IL July 2. Counting that day, this would be day 59, if my math is correct. 10 days is a minimum, not a maximum. The Orioles could put him on the 60 day IL tomorrow and he gets credit for time served. So he could be back in a week although it isn’t likely. Harvey is pre arbitration, has an option left, and has shown great promise when ( not very often) healthy. The Orioles aren’t getting rid of him
Love Watkins comment:
"I have a good surrounding cast, our pitching staff, our pitching coaches, our catchers, everybody from top to bottom to lead me through it."
Yeah kid. Sure. The best pitching staff $9 million can buy, I suppose.
Drink Kool Aid
Can we just let the other team hit off a tee.
It's time to seriously address the question of how a glass pitcher full of Kool-Aid can run through a wall without suffering a horrible, delicious death
9 million? You overestimate by at least $5 million! Lol
You need to post this four or five more times...not getting your point yet
You think Mountcastle still has any shot at AL Rookie of the Year? His numbers aren’t too far off from the “front runners”.
I sure hope so! Considering that he went through a real offensive swoon
earlier in the season, he’s really been a solid performer and brought the #s up nicely.
Baumann and Burdi, come on up and show the O's what you got!
Kooooooooooooooooooool Aid is the best, yessirree! Gotta stay hydrated!
Orioles questions - Rich could you please explain the typical rebuilding process to me? Is it instantaneous (I expect it to be)? One or two year process (what is wrong with ownership)? Was I incorrect in expecting a WS title for the O's this year? Why didn't the O's spend $100M on free agents this season? Who is the worse GM (though both are horrible amiright?) DuQuette or Elias? Why can't all starters throw 400 IP like Nolan Ryan? Why does Hyde mismanage lineups and bullpen everyday? Thanks! Joe
I can answer your Hyde vs. Duquette question.
You are what your record says you are.
I can just picture Horseshack in the back of the classroom, Oh, oh, oh, I don’t think he can help himself....go O’s...
All our starters have thrown a combined 400 innings this year, does that count? lol
I'll address the Elias vs Duquette question. I would say Elias. Elias' plan is very sound, but it requires fan's patience, which the fanbase is losing. On the other hand, tell me one good transaction that Duquette made. He won with Andy McPhail's acquisitions (Jones, Hardy, Chris Davis, drafting Machado). Duquette on the other hand, made one of the worst trades in Orioles history, trading Arrieta, always drafting a Rule 5 player to clog up Buck's roster (no wonder Buck and Duquette weren't getting along) and from the great Orioles selloff of 2018 trading Machado, Gausman, Britton, Schoop, Brach, & O'Day, from the 15 players brought back in return, only one (Tate) is on the current Orioles roster. To me there is no comparison. I would take Elias any day of the week.
I would add a couple of other notes to the great Duquette vs. Elias debate ... Duquette's two big ($50 million each) free agent flops - Ubaldo and Cobb ... and the fact that Duquette had a much larger payroll to work with than Elias has had.
We should have traded Fry when we had the opportunity. Now he’s worthless
The other day I said Gutierez had a major league body let’s see if he’s a major leaguer. Obviously not. 4 strikeouts. Jamal is not ready either. Call up Bannnon and McCoy . Nothing to lose
I like the look of Gutierrez too, but he’s only been here for a month or whatever.
Needs more exposure. Awfully light trigger pull!
Bye, bye Fry! This should’ve happened when MLB pulled the plug on the “sticky stuff”. Now if they’d just do the same with Stewart… just saying…
Yusinel Diaz is really in a funk. I thought he had all the tools. Now he can’t get nowhere near 200 in Norfolk. The trades look real bad all around
Yes, disappointing, but he can molder in the minors. Play the string out, and see what he does next year. With the amount of competition down there, in 2022 he’ll be forced to defecate or get off the pot.
This comment is from Tigers manager A J Hinch. Do any of us think Hyde would be allowed to make such a comment?
#Tigers manager AJ Hinch on adding top free agents this offseason:
"We're going to reestablish ourselves as a winning franchise and develop a winning culture. If you want to be a part of it, then you'll come. If you don't, then we'll beat you."
Yeah. He’s puffing his chest out, but time and $ will tell.
I like the confidence. It builds allegiance in your staff.
Love the statement...he definitely put it out there, now they have to back it up, not sure it sends a great message to his existing team, but they know if they don’t perform, Adios...go O’s...
Oh, to be in the AL Central!
I'm wondering: How does one reconcile the Rays' success, reputation for awesomeness, and mastery over the O's with the fact that the two teams' batting averages are virtually identical? The three top batting averages in the Rays' lineup in Sunday's game were only in the .270s.
Does dropping Watkins from the rotation prove that the Orioles are not deliberately tanking?
Since no replacements were named for Watkins and Fry, does that suggest that two more discards from other teams will be dropping in for brief visits, or maybe the Birds will be having open tryouts for pitchers?
WorldlyView, the answer to your question lies in the pitching staffs. The Rays team ERA is 3.66, good enough for 6th in all MLB, while the O’s are dead last in all MLB at 5.81. Mins you, the Rays have achieved this without Tyler Glasnow, their #1 starter. I imagine without Means the O’s team ERA would be above 6.
Steve, the Orioles batting average is eighth in the AL. They’re hitting .241. But their OPS is .702, which is 11th in the league.
The Rays are ninth with a .240 average, but their OPS is .741, sixth in the league.
Combined with the ERAs that Dave cites, that makes the Rays a more efficient team.
Both their on-base average and slugging percentage, the two components of OPS are higher.
Mike Zunino, the Rays' catcher is batting .208, but his OPS is .849 because he has 27 home runs.
Check out the differences in the stats of the bottom three players in the batting order, a huge difference.
The Rays also have eight pitchers on the injured list, and two good infielders, Mike Brosseau, who's terrorized the Orioles, and Taylor Walls at Triple-A because there simply isn't room for them in Tampa Bay.
While you love to make fun of the Orioles for picking up pitchers from the waiver wire, it can be useful. Tonight's starter, Chris Ellis, pitched four shutout innings, allowing one hit against them for the Rays, and was designated for assignment the next day because they didn't have room for him on the roster.
Predictably, the Orioles snapped him up. He started against Ohtani last week, and he'll start tonight.
The Rays will be an interesting team to watch in October because of their depth. That's the model, I think, that the Orioles are following. It will be interesting to see if there's progress in a year or two.
The replacements for Fry and Watkins could be Alexander Wells and Zack Burdi.
Tampa’s depth at a lot of their positions kinda sounds like the way the Ravens are perennial playoff contenders
Rich, You correctly ID'd Zack Burdi as a call-up. This prized waiver wire pickup makes me see the error of my ways. No more making fun of our favorite team's over-dependence on the cast-offs of others. Sure, there will be naysayers who suggest that since Mr. Burdi was acquired just 10 days ago, there has not been enough time for management to be assured he has the credentials to be a successful MLB pitcher. I say his record speaks for itself: MLB career is 0-1, 8.3 ERA in 14 games. His minor league career record is 2-11 and a 4.85 ERA; so far this year, he's 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA in the minors. He could become the next Chris Ellis. And sure, there will be some naysayers who claim that a club with our history of success should have access to better talent. To them, I say we have only had three years of rebuilding, a relative blink of an eye in team rebuilding. With one solid starting pitcher, the odds are pretty good that 2022 will be another 100+ loss season. For sure, there is legitimate hope that by 2023, the reinvigorated farm system should begin producing a competitive team. But that's a long way off. I lie awake at night pondering what would have happened if no other MLB team jettisoned a pitcher all year. Who would have been filling the revolving door pitching staffs in Baltimore and Norfolk? It was okay for Blanche to be dependent on the kindness of strangers--she was fictional. The Orioles' dependence on others is real.
This was one of your better ones, Steve, actually made me chuckle.
I just had that same thought.
Don Stanhouse and Ross Grimsley are attempting comebacks!
This is supposed to be a data driven organization so did Hyde look at Paul Fry’s absolutely horrible numbers against the Rays who now owns a 105 yes that’s a 105 not a 1.05 era and that was Hyde’s best option come on man you play to win the game you’d been better off putting it on a T.